Tongue brush and scraper



Oct. l5, 1940.

fG. D. RUNNELS TQNGUE BryUsH AND SGRAPER l Filed Feb. 25. 1939 INXENTOR /ari 11mgY Dunn 175.5/

Q15 d ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 15, 1940 ToNGUE BRUSH AND SCRAPER.

Garland D. Runnels, seattle, Wash.

Application February 25, 1939, Serial No. 258,459

1 Claim.

My present invention relates to an improved tongue brush and scraper and more particularly to the type of brush and scraper formed of soft rubber, and mounted on a more or less rigid handle.

The principal object of my inventio-n is to provide a scraper and brush which may be employed with facility, to remove from the tongue of the user, the coating which may, for various reasons, appear thereon.

A further object is to provide the scraper in a novel manner whereby a liquid tongue cleaner, or antiseptic, may be poured or placed on the scraper, and the liquid cleaner will be retained l5 on the scraper and brush until deposited on the tongue.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a handle of relatively rigid material, and a head of vresilient rubber is xed on the handle. The

head is provided with Scrapers and scrubbers so that the tongue may be easily cleaned of its coating, and the coating may be removed therefrom. The soil or matter removed from the tongue is collected by the scraper, and retained thereon until ,it is removed as by washing the scraper.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device of my invention showing the Scrapers and scrubbers, and the guard ridges.

Figure 2 is a partial vertical sectional view showing the handle extension in elevation in the head of thev device through line 2-2 of Figure 3- Figure 3 is a front elevation of the device.

:,3 Figure 4 is a portion of a vertical sectional View of the head with the extension in section through line 4--4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the head.

Figure 6 is a rear elevation of the head.

- Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view of the handle at line 'l-l of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view of the handle at line 8 8 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view of the 4.3 head at line 9 9 of Figure 3. l

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view of the handle at line Ill-I0 of Figure 3.

In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated one complete example of the physical em- .'30 bodiment of my invention according to the best mode I have thus far devised, but it will be understood that changes and alterations may be made in the exemplied structure without departing from the scope of the appended claim.

Referring to the drawing, the handle of the Cfl device is indicated generally as I, being of a substantially rigid material as pyroxilin or other suitable substance. A hole 2 is provided in the free end of the handle in order that the device may be supported when not in use, on a nail 5 or other supporting means, on a wall.

The handle l is substantially elliptical in crosssection as seen in Figure 7 and at its upper end is formed with a shoulder 3. Above the/shoulder y 3 is a reduced extension 4 upon which is mounted.A 10 the head of the scrubber and scraper.

The head comprises a body 5 of resilient rubber or other suitable material and is formed with a vertical opening or passage 6 for coaction with the extension 4. The opening or passage engages 15 snugly on the extension and maintains the head in position, although if desired, the head may be removed for substitution of either of the related parts. f

The front face of the head is formed with a '20 series of Scrapers as 'l being triangular, in crosssection, protruding from the front face in the manner of right angle triangles.

Relatively sharp edges as 8 are thus formed on the face of the head forming scraping edges, 25 and the connecting surfaces, the hypotenuse of each triangle, extending from the edge of a scraper to the inner edge of the base of the next scraper to form pockets as 9.

The matter removed from the tongue is col- 30- lected in the pockets 9 and may be easily removed by washing.

In order that the possible danger of injury to the tongue may be obviated, I have provided a series of guards or longitudinal ridges as l0 fol- 35 lowing the shape of the head. A peripheral ridge H extends around the elliptical perimeter of the head, and forms a retaining Wall therearound.

These guards or ridges I9 and Il are approx- 40 imately one half the thickness of the Scrapers and thereby prevent the tongue from a too severe scraping, and at the same time, divide the pockets 9 into sections.

The ridges or guards extend below the series of Scrapers andterminate at a lateral or cross ridge I2, which is of greater depth than the ridges I0 and Il. This ridge l2, together with a ridge I3, of the same depth, extending across the at lower edge of the head, form the scrub- 60 bers, by means of which the tongue surface may be cleaned. These scrubbing ridges have flat working surfaces, and therefor have a minimum of scraping action, but when employed either with or without a cleaning solution or paste,

remove all soil from the tongue surface and also stimulates the tongue.

A vertical ridge or guard as I4 connects the two scrubbing ridges and prevents the tongue from penetrating beyond the desired point and thereby prevents damage or injury to the tongue.

From the above description it will be apparent, that the device of my invention may be manufactured at a minimum of cost, that it is efficient in performing its function, and that it is simple to use.

It is also apparent that by the use of the guard ridges of the device, the desired scraping and scrubbing effects of the device Will be obtained, While possible injury is prevented.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a device as described, the combination with a handle having a reduced shank forming a shoulder at the inner end of the shank, of a resilient head mounted on the shank against said shoulder, said head having a face of substantially elliptical shape and coplaner with the handle, said face also having a pair of spaced transverse ridges extending from side to side of the head and fashioned with flat scrubbing faces, a third scrubbing ridge extending across the free end of the head, a plurality of spaced intermediate ridges of triangular shape in cross section and forming Scrapers extending from side to side of the head, said face having lateral edgeridges extending longitudinally thereof and also having longitudinally extending ridges between adjoining scrubbing ridges and scraper ridges, and all said longitudinally extending ridges being depressed below the working faces of the transversely extending ridges.

GARLAND D. RUNNELS. 

